Passengers to sue Boeing, Asiana Airlines over crash

Attorneys representing about 80 survivors of an Asiana Airlines plane crash in San Francisco say the passengers have taken steps toward filing lawsuits against not just the airline, but also the plane's manufacturer, the Boeing Co.

The Los Angeles Times reports the Chicago law firm Ribbeck Law Chartered is seeking information from Boeing on the design of the 777 aircraft.

The attorneys said the plane's auto-throttle might have malfunctioned — a possibility the National Transportation Safety Board has said it's studying — and that seat belts and evacuation slides that inflated inward may have contributed to passengers' injuries.

Other parts manufacturers tied to the 777 could also be named in the lawsuit. Boeing has several subcontractors and suppliers in Wichita.